A Simple, Helpful Guide to Start Your Own Blog

Written byjoshua becker ·

It is becoming increasingly difficult for me to explain how influential blogging has become in my life. Becoming Minimalistwas launched on a Monday evening in just a matter of minutes. I didn’t sit down at the computer that evening to start a blog. I just wanted to read and learn more about minimalism and owning less.

But before the evening was over, this blog was born and this post was written. A simple decision, made and executed in a manner of minutes, has changed my life in nearly every imaginable way.

I wouldn’t change anything about it. In fact, my only regret is that I didn’t start earlier.

I have written countless posts and articles urging others to make blogging a discipline in their life. But I have never offered the steps to make it a reality—until now.

Learning to blog well is a lifelong endeavor. But getting started is quite simple. It requires only a few minutes and a few dollars and I have broken the process into 7 simple, easy-to-understand parts.

A Simple, Helpful Guide to Starting Your Own Blog

1. Establish a Home.

A blog’s home consists of two parts: 1) a domain address and 2) a server.

A domain is your web address (www._______.com). And a server is the computer space you will buy to host your website and all its information.

Don’t worry about this. It’s easier than it sounds—and we’ll walk you through it. Bluehost, the server I use and recommend, has made this step affordable and user-friendly.

Your domain address is an important decision, but don’t get stuck overthinking it. It can be changed in the future if you’d like. But more importantly, whatever name you come up with first is usually the best place to start. Most websites will help you find alternatives if your first choice is already taken.

Using Bluehost for both domain registration and server hosting is the easiest option (the domain registration is free on Bluehost) and it is the server recommended by WordPress, the platform most used for blogging. Bluehost prices are reasonable. Their customer service is always available to help (email, chat, and telephone—I’ve used them all). And their 30-day money back guarantee makes starting an easy choice.

The first step to starting your own blog is to visit Bluehost and register your own domain. Click the “Get Started Now” button and choose a plan. You can select the cheapest plan for $2.95/month (yup, your own website for less than $40/year). But I use the “Plus” package at $5.95/month. It costs a bit more—but it allows unlimited websites, unlimited email addresses, and unlimited website space. I’ve never regretted the few extra dollars.

There are other upgrades available and offered throughout the process, but I don’t think any of them are necessary.

After selecting and registering a domain, install WordPress on your new domain (WordPress is an easy-to-use platform for writing and publishing content).

Installing WordPress on your new domain is as easy as clicking the “Install WordPress” button from your Bluehost Control Panel. It really is as simple as this 3-minute video explains.

Keep in mind that Bluehost is available 24 hours/day to help you with any questions if you have any problems. If you’ve always wanted a blog or website but were too intimidated to get started, please don’t be. It’s never been easier to get started.

2. Craft Your Design.

After registering a domain and installing WordPress, you can log into WordPress and begin blogging—literally, within minutes of reading this post.

Your blog will be loaded with a default theme. A “theme” is the design of your website—and WordPress offers hundreds of them for free. If you don’t love the preloaded theme, more free WordPress themes can be found through the “Appearance” link inside the WordPress Dashboard.

If you want even more customization, you can purchase a “Premium theme for WordPress.” The price of these themes tend to be quite affordable. While I used a free WordPress theme for the first two years of Becoming Minimalist, I currently use a premium theme built on the Genesis framework. Considering the time investment I have made into this website, the professional and customizable features are well worth the investment.

As you do craft the look of your blog, keep the reader’s experience first and foremost in your mind. Make your text large enough to be read easily. Avoid white text on black backgrounds. Keep your content front and center. Limit distractions (ads, links, tabs, sidebars). Display clearly your blog’s name and goal. Write helpful words with your reader in mind. And include an “About Me” page with your picture—readers want to associate a face with the words.

You will probably want to include some images in your post. Flickr offers millions of searchable images under a Creative Commons license— free to use if you include proper attribution.

3. Gather Necessary Tools.

One of the best features of WordPress is the variety of plugins created for the platform. Think of plugins as unique tools built to solve problems or offer opportunities.

Adding plugins to your WordPress site is, again, as easy as clicking an Install button. From inside the WordPress dashboard, the Plugins feature can be easily accessed from the menu on the left. Once inside the plugins area, click “add new” and search for the plugin you would like to install. Once you find it, click the “Install Now” button.

There are literally thousands of plugins to choose from. But, for getting started, here are the only 5 you need:

Akismet. Protect your blog from comment spam.

Share Buttons by GetSocial. Adds Twitter/FB/Pinterest buttons.

Google XML Sitemaps. Enables search engines to find your content.

Jetpack. A WordPress plugin that enables helpful functions (stats).

WP Super Cache. A plugin to help your content load faster.

You may also want to install Google Analytics on your webpage to better track statistics. You can blog without it, but it’ll be nice to have in the future. Here is a brief, 1-minute tutorial on the steps.

4. Define Your Success.

People start blogs for any number of different reasons. Some people hope to make extra money, craft a new career, or create passive income. Others blog to distinguish themselves in their career field.

But not everybody has professional reasons. Some writers are simply looking for a creative outlet. Others are looking for an online journal, a place to express their thoughts, or just want to share baby pictures with their grandparents on the other side of world. Each of these are worthy goals.

Every blogger gets to choose their definition of success—and each blogger gets to act accordingly.

Your definition of success can always change. Becoming Minimalist was initially created as an online record of our journey into owning less. As a community began to be established, it became a place where I found encouragement and inspiration to keep going. Eventually, it became a website dedicated to the intentional promotion of minimalism. With each passing definition of success, my specific approach to blogging changed.

As you begin blogging, articulate your intended purpose in your own mind—because your definition of success should be based upon it.

5. Be Consistent.

I have found many benefits to blogging. It has made me a better writer, a better thinker, and has motivated me to live a more intentional life. I would recommend it to anyone.

However, blogging can be difficult at times. At the very least, it requires the discipline to sit down and write on a consistent basis. I realize not everybody enjoys writing. And if you hate it, blogging is probably not the best creative outlet for you.

But even for those who do enjoy writing, blogging requires consistency. Growing a community requires you to remain present and engaged. Showing up on a regular basis does not mean you need to blog every day. But it does require you to show up consistently.

It is this consistency that forces many of the benefits listed above. You can only become a better writer if you sit down to write. And the best way to add intentionality in your life is to sit down and record the things you are observing.

Consistency benefits the community. But equally important, it benefits the writer. I stand as proof.

6. Connect with Others.

Your writing has value and carries potential to influence and change lives.

It is important, therefore, to connect your writing with potential readers. If you are not on social media, I would encourage you to do so. Share your posts with your friends on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and elsewhere.

Each of the social media sites (Google+ included) offers a unique approach to connecting with readers and utilizes a slightly different language. Become active on 1-2 of them and learn best how to use them. Here is how I use each.

Take time to find other bloggers who are producing similar content. Connect with them via Twitter or email introducing yourself and your goals. Include links on your site that help readers discover more people writing on similar topics. Links make the Internet work—and they are the best way to get noticed in a busy, noisy world.

If you want people to subscribe to your blog and receive posts via email, you will need to set that up. Most bloggers consider an email list the most important thing you can do online. Again, software has made this relatively easy. I use MailChimp and recommend it.

7. Grow with Your Blog.

Your website will change. I know mine has. You will discover other writers and find new blogging strategies. You will find new tools and new opportunities to share your content. As your site begins to grow, you may choose to invest more time and money into it.

If your experience is anything like mine, these opportunities will come from any number of sources. Each stage of growth will arrive when you most need it.

But in the end, your blog will grow… and so will you. Get started right here.

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Note: I am a Bluehost affiliate which means the company has graciously offered me a small commission every time someone signs up via one of my links. This does not influence my recommendation. I have used Bluehost from the very beginning and continue to do so today.

About Joshua Becker

Writer. Inspiring others to live more by owning less.WSJ Bestselling author of The More of Less.

Great post! I’m finding it hard to write without constantly quoting different sources. It doesn’t come as surprise to me that being a product of my environment all my ideas, at the very root, come from something that I’ve read or heard. Then it reminds me of some other great idea I’ve read or heard!
These are then the things that inspire me to write. How would you suggest going about posting without (or with!) constantly referring other sources?
Thanks in advance!
Kathy

Thank you! I thought about starting a blog for a few months before looking into it. I searched “Why write a blog” and found your post on that which was very encouraging. That post lead to this one and now I’m off and running! So thankful for the step by step guide!

Hello Joshua,
I found your website searching for a credible site for information on starting a blog. I found lots of info. Your information was very inspiring, easy to understand, and unique. Thank you for contribution, may God bless you and your family.
Israel.

Thank you for this post. It is very inspirational. I am in the same situations as the other comments,I want to, but undecided. “I am jack of trades and a master none.(unknown)” It will make you become a better writer and communicator. I am a history teacher and writing is important(please don’t grade me on this comment) LOL.
Thanks again.

Thank you so much for this, Joshua! I love your blog! I refer lots of friends and clients to your blog, which has been a wonderful inspiration to me! You DO make a difference! Thank you for all that you do!
Michelle May Balke,
Marriage and Family Therapist,
San Diego, CA

Hi Joshua. I’ve been writing a WordPress blog and following you (and CC) for some time now, as I lean into Minimalism. Thanks so much for all of the great info, it has truly been life changing. I’m so NOT technologically savvy and I’m wondering what benefits I would have to using a hosting site like Blue host. Are there additional benefits to that as opposed to doing what I’m doing? I have a WordPress blog with a domain name that I purchased through WordPress. I tried going the Blue host route, then panicked and closed my account. At this point it just seems too complicated for me (even with their 24 hour customer service). I’m wondering if you could put it in perspective for me so I’ll know when to make my move. Thanks so much!
Jeanne

Your blog has been one of my favorites for awhile and as a fellow blogger, I totally agree with what you’ve said here. Minimalism is so freeing to me and it’s a journey my family and I are on. Even with 3 little kids, I believe our home doesn’t need to be cluttered. A cluttered house feels like a cluttered life to me.
Thank you for all you do, for how you keep it positive and how you create great content. I’m always inspired!

Your blog has been one of my favorites for awhile and as a fellow blogger, I totally agree with what you’ve said here. Minimalism is so freeing to me and it’s a journey my family and I are on. Even with 3 little kids, I believe our home doesn’t need to be cluttered. A cluttered house feels like a cluttered life to me.
Thank you for all you do, for how you keep it positive and how you create great content. I’m always inspired! – Angela
NWHealthyMama.com

Joshua thank you for your guidance in this post. It certainly helped me with starting up a blog for which I have lots of content and need to match the level of discipline to keep it going. I noticed with my first few posts numerous comments where it is difficult to know whether the comments are genuinely from readers or more “spam-like” in nature. Any ideas how to weed these out when determining what to allow as blog comments?

There is something special about you and I like the simplicity of the texts. I had always loved writing but feel that I am loosing it as responsibility increases. You have presented a strong reason to consider blogging what is your advise for a mother like me with young kids.

This is a great post! For the longest time I have been wondering whether or not I should create a blog. This got me thinking why not? After all like you said, blogging can be very beneficial for us as writers and the readers. It also teaches us things about the world around us. Thank you very much for inspiring me to start planning! You pretty much gave me all the necessary information for me to make a go for it. Have a wonderful day.

Mr. Joshua Becker, love your stuff! :) I keep up with you on Facebook.

I journal, and blogging is always something I’ve wanted to do. I have been doing some reading on it in the last 6 months; it is hard to find some straightforward guidance on starting a blog, for those that are not entirely technology minded! I literally, started one via Bluehost/Wordpress yesterday! and saw this article today, which will give me more info! Yay!

I just went to a Wordcamp on WordPress. Discussed there were WordPress.org vs WordPress.com (the free one). It sounds like you use the .org version? I was thinking about going with the free .com option but buy my own domain name. What do you think? Is there a reason you would recommend .org over .com or vice versa?

I just wanted to say how happy I am with the font choices on this site. It is just the right size and weight for me. I normally encounter light gray text on a white background that I need to CTRL + a few times. Thanks!

Thank you Joshua! Quick questions–what if I have varied interests to write about? Do you recommend doing totally separate blogs or just individual pages within one blog? The topics are totally unrelated. [Weddings-(business related), Corvettes, bodybuilding/health, daily inspiration, and guns/shooting sports] You mentioned the “plus” plan that allows having more than one website with wordpress. And for the business one (weddings) would you recommend I just add a blog page to my existing website or do a link to an actual blog website? Thanks for any input! -Julia

Hi Joshua, your blog is very inspiring and direct. After weeks of swimming through blogging information I was about to say forget it! Your lists of reasons on why to blog changed my attitude. I am grateful for your help.